Silva's changes breathe fresh life into Everton

No “recognised” striker.

Isn't that what he does for Brazil?

Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin dropped
Davies given a chance
Baningime in the bench

Bad points:

4-2-3-1
Two wingers? (If Bernard is Number 10), usually leaves us exposed.
Richarlison up front was questionable for the team last season.
Walcott

They're our supposed 2 “recognised strikers” out of 3 with Tosun.

Good to see Richarlison up top, he was anonymous for most of our last match. I wish him well today, same for our team. COYB.

Who was top scorer last season?

I would have liked to see Richarlison on the wing and Gylfi in the 10 position. They would have been the biggest beneficiaries of that midfield change. It's baby out with the bathwater.

I'm surprised, which in itself is a pleasant surprise, but I don't think we needed that many changes. Is Walcott really the answer? What was the question?

Maybe if Richarlson and Walcott play more as a pair of strikers, possibly even supported by Bernard cutting in, with Iwobi creating and following up, perhaps there's a chance this could work.

Never convinced by Richarlison as central forward if that is how Silva plays it.

Good pills, these!

Are you doubting our manager's tactical acumen? Surely not.

Beni on the bench – has Silva finally come to his senses with Schneiderlin or is he injured?

Down to the bare bones in central midfield. Let's hope things start to click. COYB

Delph is injured which is why he pulled out of the England squad.

Get in there.

1 - 0

Maybe I'm just bitter that I traveled halfway around the world for the last two home games...

I still think Silva's an utter mug and we are on an inevitable hiding to nothing with him in charge though.

The front 4 have been as frustrating as they've ever been in blue. The difference is that the ball gets straight to them before the opposition half is clogged with both sets of players.

Them number of times we've got 4 v 4 or 5... that's not down to the 4. That's down to us getting it to them early. It's frustrating that they haven't done more with all those great positions and I'd bet Sigurdsson will be sitting there wondering what he could have done in those positions.

Apart from his chance which he really should have scored from, Tom Davies has been outstanding. Back to his best. Getting and giving the ball in the same movement.

Does it always come off? No. But time and again the ball goes forward and turns the opposition.

Who else thought the chance had gone when Bernard saw the ball seemingly run away from him with the keeper closing in? A touch of good fortune, but no shortage of skill from the wee man.

Theo Walcott has also had a very good first half in both halves of the pitch. Richarlison chasing everything. Gomes purring at times (but I do wish he would stop giving up so many cheap fouls). Iwobi a bit on the margin of things. He shys away from the physical side of the game and in that half, I didn't like the couple of times when he lost the ball and he flung his arms out and spun away in frustration with the ball still alive close to him.

Digne looks so much better in the company of Bernard. Keane and Mina solid. Pickford redundant.

But one goal is never enough with this Everton team. It's very rare we see two good halves of football from Everton in the same game. How resilient can we be if they score?

But I like the energy and drive they displayed in the first 45 minutes.

We would not be playing at that pace if Sigurdsson was in the middle, so your hypothetical query is a non-starter.

Those who have championed him (despite his obvious issues) will find it hard to admit they were wrong... I get that.

Toss up between Gomes and Davies for MotM for me.

That makes it all the more frustrating that we've had to watch Silva picking Schneiderlin and Delph together.

WHU has been playing well, but we largely bossed them. Much more energetic and driving performance from Everton, evidently recognized and appreciated by the crowd.

It's that simple to get the support behind you.

So many more shots taken and on target. A couple rattling the woodwork. How the hell Mina's header was chalked off I don't know. Got to be good for Sigurdsson to get a goal also.

Much, much needed lift for all.

Again, I get it – that some are not willing to let go of their 'superstar'.

Tom Davies - step the fuck up son!! What a brilliant game. Some of us believe in ya, kid!

MotM for me Iwobi. Completely changed the complexion of our side as the No 10.

It's not the formation, it's the players chosen inside of the formation and we need to play the ball through the middle more. We had the right players today, and thanks to Iwobi, we played the ball through the middle more.

Marco, take note. You're a bit dense and slow, sir, most of us saw this eons ago. Don't fuck this up.

Great game.

Silva hasnt helped himself at time this season, but in his defence there isn't another midfielder at the club who can replace Gomes. And as a result, coupled with the injuries to Delph and Gbamin and Gomes, there hasn't been a full-strength centre pairing all season.

Davies did well, fell a bit for Morgan as I think he has actually improved.

Can't see why the Mina goal was disallowed, but the ref made a couple of baffling calls.

All-in-all, a much rosier outlook.

As others have said, we played with pace and with attacking intent today. Not sure how much of that was down to the benching of Sigurdsson or whether it was our two 'defensive' mids being Gomes and Davies.

Also, I've still no idea why Mina's goal was disallowed and I'd be very interested to find out why. Bet we never will though.

Wrong about Iwobi. Not out and out poor, but very peripheral.

The weakest of our starting XI on the day.

How patronising is that? So dismissive of people who are talking about setup, tactics, quality, goalscoring.

I guess I could go with "some people are just so determined not to like the big money signing" but that would be unfairly demeaning as I'm sure your opinion is based on what you're seeing. As is mine, by the way.

Haha, comedy gold. What game were you watching?'

Having said that, I think we looked a lot more fluid going forward and interchanged really well. We looked more dangerous without Sigurdsson.

I thought we pressed them very well and didn't give them much time on the ball. Hopefully we can build on this next weekend!

Ballsy selection from Silva. It was win or bust. The lads played their hearts out for him. Bit nervy at the end until Sigurdsson came on and made sure...

Great to see Gomes getting the fans going at the end. More of the same against Brighton please.

We need to be so much more clinical in front of goal, I hope that confidence will make that happen. The bar is set now so we can't dip below that level on the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see if silva sticks by a winning team.

As a side note, the referee was shocking.

We 100% watched different games! ;0)

Iwobi was fantastic, and he completely changed our side. Speed moving foward, not afraid to take the space through the middle, superior vision, and did I say speed through the middle??

Man, we watched two different games. I thought he was superb.

I was watching the game.

How about you?

He's not just good with the ball at his feet, he's brilliant.

Our challenge is to get the ball into him. What we've been doing is walking the ball up the pitch until there are 20 players in the opposition half. If you're going to do that then absolutely don't pick him. It would be pointless.

But if you're going to go forward quickly and find your number 10 in space then I'd pick him every time.

I'd also play Richarlison on the wing. And I'd have an easier time picking Kean.

This idea that Sig has been slowing our attacks is based on what? Any examples of flowing moves where he slowed the play down? They haven't been happening. Before today we've been playing most of our football between the back 6.

Sigurdsson is a good player. Of that there's no question. But we were a changed side with Iwobi.

There's a place for Sigurdsson in the squad. I'm of the firm opinion he should be second choice.

Some of this bubbling argument that brewing – Sigurdsson or Iwobi? – is down to Marco.

After the second game, I screamed for Sigurdsson to be dropped. He wasn't performing. Competition for places raises everyone's game. Yet Marco just plodded on, as he usually does, and didn't effect change.

Had he dropped Gylfi back early in the season, when he deserved dropping, motivated him like he did today, we may not be having this conversation.

Take a few risks, not always go safe and square. We have been dominating possession in every game but not translating it into chances. Apparently, the Hammers' keeper made more saves in a game than any other this season.

The key to this whole thing, for me, is Iwobi and Davies in lieu of Sigurdsson and Schneiderlin.

The former play the ball forward, always look forward, and play to actually score and move it quickly.

The latter play sideways or wide continually, with little or no pace.

It changed our side, and I've been bleating on about it for weeks.

One of Walcott's best games for us there. Thrilled with Beni on the bench too. More of the same next time, please. COYB!

The real thrust to the side today came from Tom Davies and Gomes. That's what kept us on the front foot. It actually broke down a lot around Iwobi.

Yes, he played in Bernard, Digne and Walcott quite nicely a couple of times, but he lost the ball cheaply a lot also, shies out of challenges, and a couple of times flung out his arms and spun around in frustration on losing the ball when it was still alive around him rather than fighting to reclaim it.

Like Davies in the first half, he should also have done better with the 1-on-1 with the keeper.

I like the lad. He has good technique. But there were ten players in front of him in the starting XI who merited the MotM performance you bestowed upon him more, in my opinion.

But the whole team stepped up today and I'm content with that.

He should retain his place and the challenge is for Sigurdsson to improve and find his form. But he's scored a cracker and could have had another. I think he's up for that challenge.

Atmosphere was brilliant, made better by about 6 Italians in sweat tops with Everton Italia on them being all Italian with there gestures and shouting.

Walcott was superb for me, never stopped running and never hid from the ball.

Please learn from that, Marco, and the same 11 at Brighton please.

THAT is what primarily had us moving forward more rapidly in numbers today, not Iwobi. Iwobi was one of the beneficiaries of Tom Davies's play, not the instigator of the team's improved performance.

Sigurdsson needs a taxi to get from back to front and vice versa... to suggest he can played a part in a fast pace attacking game is frivolous and certainly doesn't take account of the evidence..

The evidence you ask? Every single game he's played for our club...

He can be individually brilliant but is nowhere near mobile enough for the exciting game we played today.

You’re 50% correct. 😜

How nice is it to argue who’s played better after a 2-0 dominating win?

To me that was a group of players playing for their manager, long may it continue!

Despite the fact I am one of his biggest critics, well done Sigurdsson, a quite sensational goal.

Sorry Ernie @66, you are seeing a totally different player to the one everyone else is seeing. Brilliant he most certainly isn't.

Let's hope Silva sticks with this line-up and let's hope this wasn't a one-off performance.

I forgot how good this feels.

Iwobi was getting into positions that Sigurdsson doesn't. Maybe you couldn't see that from your view. I could see the runs Iwobi was making.

I also watch Sigurdsson mark himself out of the game. Iwobi was much more available. He presented the options and Gomes and Davies the passes.

Just opinions.

Once again, the team and individuals have shown what they are capable of. If we'd have played like that since the opening day we would be sitting 3rd or 4th.

The debate about Marco Silva's tactics, selections, motivational skills, whatever, will not abate unless and until he starts producing performances and results like today on a more consistent basis, whilst suffering only isolated defeats rather than 6-8-10 game winless runs.

And one thing he should do to help the team and himself now is believe in Tom Davies again and give him a good run in the side.

He was that important to us today.

Your mileage may vary.

I agree with every single other assessment you pose. Including, and especially, where our position in the table would be presently, had Marco not dithered.

Cheers.

Good post.

I agree, it should not take such a long and pathetic run of losses to get Silve to change system and personnel.

What I find unbelievable is, why Silva has ignored Davies until now? I hope he finally sees that two holding midfielders doesn't work.

As for Schneiderlin, glad he was dropped, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Beni was on the bench because he had an injury.

For me, it was a game won in spite of the manager rather than because of him.

I saw two holding midfielders today.

Davies sat deep, very deep, for most of the game. Gomes got forward, but his number one priority was to protect. Davies sat, Gomes was more box-to-box, but with a priority to defend / hold.

The 4-2-3-1 was implemented to perfection today. The correct players in the correct positions, moving the ball forward quickly and looking to attack, with two holding mids protecting that clean sheet first and foremost.

The No 10 position seems to be redundant in modern football. Sigurdsson always offers a goal threat when he's confidence is high. Great strike by the way. Changing the team seemed to give us more options through the middle for the first time this season we actually looked like scoring.

But I would counter your claim about Iwobi taking up better positions than Sigurdsson (who you claim 'marks himself out of the game') with the obvious response.

We haven't played with anywhere near that level of intensity all season as we saw today. Ergo, it has been incredibly easy for the opposition to crowd out Siggy and put 2-3 players on the team's most creative player, so ponderous has been our approach play. A player of his experience, vision and capability would never 'mark himself out of the game' as you glibly describe.

It was Tom Davies's consistent receiving and instant moving of the ball FORWARD that gave the likes of Bernard, Walcott and Richarlison more space and time in which to attack a turning and retreating defence. Iwobi was another beneficiary of this, but a lot broke down around him. It's to be expected. The opposition works hard to do just that.

Iwobi is a clever footballer. I expect Iwobi to improve in that role, given more opportunities. But the finished article, or even MotM today? Not even close.

I think Tom's situation is interesting. I think like JJK, Rich and Iwobi, even, that he's a bit hit and miss and Silva doesn't wholly trust him. That is partially down to youth and inexperience IMHO. If they get more game time, they hopefully mature and improve. The question is, does Silva give them that opportunity or take the "safer" option of older but less dynamic players? It's a similar quandary to the style question. Do you play safe AKA Fat Sam, or do you roll the dice AKA Bobby? The latter has more potential upside but also greater risk.

Can we build on that ? I don't see why not, another performance like that against Brighton next weekend will result in a win.

Fair play to Sigurdsson on his spectacular goal. He does however slow down the speed of our counter-attacks

Despite our differing opinions, you've absolutely nailed something.

Davies was superb. And he absolutely changed the complexion of the team. Every ball, when he won possession, which he did often enough and very well today, he looked forward. He was immense.

And it is a massive difference with him out there, instead of Schneiderlin playing it sideways.

We're more on the same page methinks, with a small disagreement about the impact of Iwobe.

Davies was just fantastic today. Brilliant.

Every time we went forward we looked like scoring and its been some time since we said that.

He’s found a balance and a formula that worked to perfection, I just hope he sticks to it.

I think the newspapers agree that Iwobi did okay...

Silva backed himself into the corner. He had to win. He picked a team that was win or lose. I imagine he also told the players that he could not lose. Nothing but a win would be enough. The players went out and played for him. They gave him everything. That’s something that’s hard to deliver consistently. The players were absolutely knackered. You could see how they were all getting water every stoppage.

For once they can look the manager in the eye and say they carried out their jobs to the best of their ability.

What we must not do is celebrate this result for very long. It is a tiny improvement and a baby step forward.

I still think Silva can have us playing some fantastic football though, if we do the hard things well enough and for long enough.

Today the team benefited from a positive midfield with Tom Davies and Andre provoding a quick and creative platform.

Playing Richarlison up top encouraged the positive play. Having a hopeless centre-forward kills a team's morale.

Special mention to Kean who played a big part in the lead up to Gylfi's sublime goal.

Big decision for Manager to make next week regarding Sigurdsson now. Marco should keep him in the bench again but does he have the bottle.

The first half was excellent. Iwobi between the lines both receiving the ball and carrying it. He created so much space for others to find. This was aided by Richarlison who often was a false nine, running in to out taking a player with him and gave Iwobi even more space.

Davies & Gomes didn’t sit they played higher and squeezed the ball, any won possession meant all four forward players were close by and easy to find, often picking the loose ball up just from challenges. Davies in particular looked forward and was very good.

The link restored between Bernard & Digne gave us a different dimension, Sidibe’s range of passing is far superior to that of Coleman’s.

None of this matter if you play at a snails pace, in the first half we didn’t, good tempo and ball pace, 2/3-0 would not have flattered us.

Davies yellow card was dumb, he is always less of a player on a yellow, his game of mark and pinch, neutered. He was a passenger in the second half. The effect was clear. We lost the tempo and pace and the game was more open and far less structured unlike the first half.

I was pretty annoy that Silva stood and did nothing as minutes 50, 60 and 70 ticked by.

Sure we had chances but several players faded out of the game. Walcott and Davies the two I would have hooked.

It gave West ham a sniff and not for a great save from an otherwise unemployed Pickford we’d have ceded the lead.

Thankfully a great strike settled it, a goal borne out of space time and West Ham trying to get an equalizer.

A welcome result, pace and tempo will wins you games. The second was allowed to drift and the lack of changes compounded it. Will Marco stick with that team?

I hope he retains his position and can put that silly rumour to bed.

The biggest factor for me was not having Sneiderlinn on the field today. Having two dynamic midfielders in Gomes and Davies who have the courage to go forward with the ball changed the whole complexion of how we played. They both, along with the four defenders were immense. Bernard the wee magician did well along with Richarlison up front who ran his socks off! Iwobi and Walcott did well at times. Both of them did some real good things but also some poor things too.

Overall much improved performance and well done Silva for finally realising our weaknesses and addressing them. You took your time!

Think Silva needs to rotate his squad better. A couple of matches rest might reinvigorate siggy and Seamus. I think both players still will play a big role in the season but maybe not always starting. God that match today put a smile on my face! It’s been a while but the joy in seeing siggys goal go in! Beautiful strike : )

That ^^

It's not nice to say, but we are an entirely different team, and a better team, without Morgan in the side.

Well done Silva, I wasn't confinced he would change the team around so credit where its due it paid off.
Also good to see the players performing like it meant something.

Sigurdsson is a fantastic footballer and he showed that with his goal. Let’s hope he can be reinvigorated.

Silva's season depends on him reading this website.

I'll disagree with a host of people over Sig (no, not all, Annika) but I doubt anyone fails to see improvement as a result of Schneiderlin not being there.

Given our formation, he's a hindrance. Gets in the way. Slows us down. I'd rather play with 10 men.

Just analyse what he did - he only changed the personnel and tactics to reflect the side that many Evertonians - including many on this forum - have been crying out for for weeks.

None of us are experts, and none of us are taking a sizeable wedge home every week for steering the club in the right direction. But it's his job to do so. And if his thinking is lagging behind that of the fan base, and he's too stubborn or lacking in ideas to make things work, then he shouldn't be here.

We’re not far back either. What’s that 4 off 4th before the 3.00pms, and the results going ok for us so far.

We need to get a run going and we can climb the table and get back to where we expected us to be.

That said...

We've all watched more Everton games than he has. I've watched most of these players more than he has.

In any other industry, people who spend this much time viewing, analysing and discussing a topic would quite rightly be considered expert.

The real proof will be who Marco selects moving forward.

If he stays with this more dynamic, attacking, faster lineup, we stand a chance of forgiveness, and righting the ship.

If he reverts to type, it'll be a crucifixion.

And can we really forgive him for squandering so many possible points in a relatively easy schedule and start?

Not yet, for me.

If Schneiderlin comes in, or Sigurdsson starts next week and Iwobe is on the bench, or Bernard not playing? Then Marco is clearly delusional. If he isn't already. And if he benches Davies, he should be drawn and quartered.

As John Pierce pointed out, did Marco actually make the changes, or were they forced on him? Next week's starting lineup will go a long way to answering that crucial question.

One good game is not going to gloss over the previous poor performances, and the next couple of games should show if the improvements today will continue.

God it's good to win, and it's so wonderful to see that the players tried so hard today. Of course, that should be the minimum expectation but I was worried they'd given up on Silva. There's still lots to play for this season.

"we are now only 2 points back on last seasons results." That isn't much of an argument. We were 11th in the table, AKA bottom half after 8 games last year. Now we are "just" two points off that unsatisfactory position.

True, it's a difficult league and you get some funny results. But, the top 6 pretty much always end up being the top 6. Then other "middling" teams seem to have their year here and there e.g. Leicester won the league, Burnley 7th. Everton never seem to have "their day" though. At least not since 2004. I look at it like you're in school. It's easy to get a C and say "half the other kids didn't do their homework either." But that isn't really a great mentality to have in life.

Walcott was my motm and looked dangerous and capable everytime he had the ball. I would of made a couple different subs but Silva got the response he needed from the off. Another good thing to see was Sidibe, very good with his passing and positioning.

So now its on to the next game... this can't be a one off!

To compare our position v last season isn't exactly in keeping with our motto.

Last season was dogshit. I don't care at all where we are v last season.

I will readily admit it's an odd, tough league this season. Nothing is really going to type, sans the top 2 clubs. And the less spoke about that, the better.

I ain’t saying we’re doing well, or even ok. It’s just not quite as bad as some make out. Don’t forget to maintain what we have on this table we need to beat Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal, which means we need to be a lot better. A lot, lot better.

The season is still young and we can still turn things around. We need to put a lot of wins on the board quickly though.

Great performance. Inspiring, more of the same in the future please. 5 egg omellete coming up (take note JC).

I know you want the best. Of that there's no question in my mind.

Paul Kelly -

Two fried eggs with a bagel today. Performance deserved a 5 egg badmotherfucker omlette to be sure!

I like Richarlison upfront. It keeps him in the game more, and I like Bernard on the left.

I said when we bought him that Iwobi might well play centrally and it seemed to work much better today. Some much needed mobility and energy in the middle.

He was bending his runs like a ‘U’ from in to out, often at full tilt as he finished the upstroke in the channel. It better played to his skill of strength and running rather than trying to play it into him where he often gets embroiled in contact. Most of the balls were on the floor too, a welcome nuance.

" It’s just not quite as bad as some make out." That I agree is a fair point. In the grand scheme of things it never is "as bad" as nut cases on here, myself included make out. But that's football fans for you.

What impressed me most about him today was how he physically dominated the midfield. We all know he has a great range of passing but he won a lot of 50/50 balls today and West Ham just couldn't handle him.

There are still questions regarding the mobility in regard to the two centre backs and their distribution, and forward finishing. But hopefully this can be improved on. Pickford needs to improve his concentration, the cross field pass from the left edge of his penalty area that hit Keane, was a real no no.

In my opinion the midfield and attack playing this way , allowed players to play to their strengths. Of course West Ham have a open style of play, which did help, but Everton do have the players, who when playing at their best can unlock setup shop teams.

Silva has to now push on from here and keep the team improving and set the necessary standards at Finch Farm. Hopefully internal changes at Everton will also gather pace. .

Tony, Walcott was better today and found himself setting up wide right but seemed to play with more freedom. Good to see him playing closer to the striker and in the middle. Not so good to see Richarlison greedily go for goal a couple times, then again he is wasted out wide.

Much better balance today and l admit, baring some sloppy early passes Gomes and Davies had more energy and drive. I hope Silva keeps the same team next game. We have good players, a good squad. Lets give Kean the time he needs.

And by the way... 4 losses in a row is bad. Maybe not as bad as 5... but its bad enough and can't be repeated.

Brian, I would also add that he showed a “quiet” leadership. He communicated with others frequently (during stoppages for example) and forced his will on the game.

He’s a massive favourite of silva and is the one who makes the team play the way silva wants them to play. Which is how they played today. That’s faster more direct football, not the side to side stuff.

I’m sure We all do things like this when it comes to our team, but nobody faced more pressure than Howard, who then went on to give me my best days following Everton.

Everyone has got opinions, it’s what makes the game so great, but leaving Goodison today, my little godson said Gomes was motm, and this fella walking down the street, said good choice son, he was brilliant.

I wouldn’t have had him in my top 3, is what I said, but that was the beauty about today, because for the first time this season, a much higher percentage of the players played well, rather than didn’t play well, and wasn’t it a lot more enjoyable to watch?

Another fella, made the best point though, “he said we looked a much better team- even though we were very wasteful in very good positions at times- but let’s see if the players that played today, can now start to gel- and I couldn’t have agreed with him any more.

People like Darren Hind have made valid criticisms of the lad but I think he'll do us proud in the end.

The goals were brilliant individual efforts. Bernard is a class act, as is Gylfi in a number of respects.

Thought Gomes was MOTM by far Davies was good especially passing forward, lots of times not even stopping the ball but quickly moving it forward.

Much better, we deserved to win by more than the two, and that really was the only thing wrong, my heart was always in my mouth because we only led by one goal until the very end.

Jay Wood, agree with you entirely over Iwobi, I think he shirks the hard physical part of the game, does a lot of bluff work, running hard at back passes which almost most of the time is wasted effort but looks good, he never puts a good hard tackle in and shied away from at least four confrontations with opposing players, noticed this deficiency in past games, confirmed it for me today, pure and simple he lacks bottle, to me anyway.

Hopefully it’s just a dead leg or something and nothing more than that. He was immense today and gets better every game. I also think he can be the leader we need at the back. He certainly has the personality.

We stood on WH today and bar some awful refering decision would have scored 4, and our squad should be beating WHU at goodison, My fear is that today the team where playing to save the managers job, will we be back to the same pedestrian stuff in a months time ? I hope not, Walcott was great today but he is finished

I don't think Silva will be here long term however I did vote in the TW poll to give him till Xmas, But today was good and I really enjoyed it, the fans were excellent also any doubts that a "lack of atmosphere" is the issue is bollox the team need to get the supporters onside as they very much did today

The effort and endevour shown today should be the minimum expected

Better game all round but can they keep it up?

Had he been performing to same level at one of the Top 6 I reckon he would have been shipped by now

Anyways best not focus on the negatives nice to enjoy a good performance today for the 1st time this season, long may Walcotts golden run continue ;)

All the best

Pickford 8 for the vital save

Sidibe 8 did well at the back and supported the attack. Gotta start ahead of Coleman
Digne 6 crosses not great and they managed to make some headway on the left
Keane & Mina 8 both Dominant - rly good as a pair

Gomes 9 brilliant performance - ran the show. If he can add consistency and goals he’ll be the all round midfielder
Bernard 7 lucky with his goal. Got involved but avoids shooting when there’s a chance
Iwobi 8 kept us moving forward with incisive passes. Should have scored tho
Walcott 7 did quite well but didn’t maximise opportunities. And there were a few
Davies 8 excellent match. Played the role rly well. Very impressive. Deserves more chances

Richarlison 6 didn’t really influence the match. Striker isn’t his position

Trying not to take too much away from us I was quite surprised how poor West Ham were, glad but surprised!
They showed nothing going forward but could have changed the game had their attempt from their corner gone in. Ii looked as if Silva changed the marking from their couple of corners from the daft zonal to a more man for man. Still caused chaos from the first one but we were due a bit of luck.

Silva still has a way to go and I still have my doubts.
Todays efforts should be the absolute minimum we should expect from both him and the team
Good result.

I can see both sides of the Iwobi argument, so let’s see how he develops playing in the middle of the pitch, whilst not forgetting that it’s a squad game nowadays?

Tony H and Brent, he was fit last season but his championship club just didn’t fancy him. I also thought he looked a player, but perhaps not as lofty hopes as you two. It bamboozled me as to what happened to him since San Allardyce left. Unsworth picked him and said he was too good for the u23 level so it seems he still believes in him.

Also worth noting that silva went with Baningime and not Denis Adendorin, as the latter has been in the first team squad all season. Also note that both played for the u23s last night.

VAR is a farce. It is used to disallow goals but never to award them.

My only gripe is, we need to be much more ruthless when we're dominating the opposition. It was always a bit tense right up until when Siggy scored the second goal.

Also, another big concern that didn't seem to be eradicated today was our vulnerability from corners/set-pieces. We nearly conceded from a corner when two West Ham players were left unmarked and Pickford had to pull off a good save. It was easy an chance for West Ham and one you'd expect them to score but the shot was too close to Pickford. That could quite easily have cost us three points. Marco needs to drop this zonal marking as it will continue to cost us points over the course of the season. Many teams in the PL use zonal marking effectively... but Silva's version of it has proved to be hugely problematic in his time here.

Martinez in his first 6 months nearly got there, but there's something about this manager which fills me with hope - contrary to my view before he was appointed.

We had a sense of it today and we've had it in quite a few other games since he came, in flashes. He wants what we want. Stick with him and I think he'll do it.

If we played a 442, and he was up top he’s drop off the striker and end up in the same position.

The Gomes/Davies duo functioned very effectively as a midfield pairing, not only disrupting West Ham’s play but also using the ball quickly and purposefully. At the back Mina, who has been our most consistent performer this season, had another dominant game while Sidibé, deceptively fast, built on the favourable impression he created at Lincoln and Sheffield.

One win does not a recovery make but this was a welcome start.

Anyway that's besides the point.

I don't think we can give Silva the thumbs up based on ne result against a very poor West Ham. Seems we've been here before and he's reverted to type.

As I mentioned in my previous post it was a great result which we badly needed obtained by a far better balanced team.
However, I hear Silva mention prior to the game that Schneiderlin wasn't in the squad as he picked up an injury and Sigi not started because he'd played 2 internationals.

I just wonder if he would have reverted to his usual set up if these two hadn't been in those situations? If so I doubt we would have seen the quicker, more forward thinking play we saw this afternoon.

Before you make a judgement on Silva let's see how he copes next match, then the next.
So far he doesn't deserve any praise. Today was the least we should expect

I fully grasp why others think that the above is bollocks.

Time, as ever, will tell.

I got home from the match at 4:15, and watched it again because my 'Young Lady' had recorded it for me, like any game, in my opinion, the TV experience does not do justice to the performance. The atmosphere can't be transmitted, you have to be there to fully appreciate it.

While I admit that we need to replicate this (what I consider) good all-round showing – like yourself, if I've interpreted your post correctly – there are some, and they have an absolute right to express their views, who appear to be taking it in negative way. By all means, we must consider what lies ahead, but let's bask in the warmth that a good result brings.

Never knew about the comments on Sideways and Siggi and that is worrying. I hope we don't revert back to same old, same old next week.

Walcott was great but let's be realistic - it's a performance that probably won't be repeated. Still, this should be the lineup going forward. Walcott deserves to start at Brighton.

As for Silva, how has it gotten to this situation for him to realise that dropping poor performing players is a good thing? Why does it take a 2 week break to figure out we have decent players that can come in and do a job?

I’m not going to be lulled into any false dawn, this level and purpose must be default for every Everton game.

Better balance, movement and team play but it’s a start. My ma8, from West Ham, said it should have been 7.

Puzzled by the officials with some strange descisions, but tonight we look on a few more teams, below us.

Let’s bust the South Coast jinx next week at

Let’s hope both goals get some plaudits by the media that would be a first for some time.

Sidibe didn't have much to do today but l'd still keep him in the side. I'd also keep Richarlison up top, whether he likes it or not. Not too impressed with the tackle and free kick he gave away on the edge of our box. Can't fault his effort but he needs to use his head.

Pace, energy, forward momentum, good movement, playing high up, not inviting pressure on our defence.
He has to play this way away from home now, and I’ll be encouraged that he’s learnt from his mistakes.
You can’t coach DCL into becoming a good player, it’s just not there at the top level. Siggy is a fantastic special teams player sub, but not a starter.
And Schneiderlin should never be near a matchday squad again.
Stick to these principles and we’ll fly up the table.

Had West Ham scored from that corner would VAR have looked back to see the foul prior to awarding the corner?
It really is confusing.

Regarding Sigi and Schneiderlin. We just assumed both had been dropped. One because he had not been performing and didn't deserve a start so on the bench. The other because he brings absolutely nothing to the team and left out the matchday squad. We were wrong in both cases.

Surely Silva, injuries apart, has to give the lads who performed well today a start next game.

Just because our formation worked today doesn't mean it will next time. Good opposing managers will clock what we did in this game and tweak their line-up to try nulify us, thats what they get paid for.

Some have been saying we have to play Schneiderlin as he is the only one, now Gbamin is out, that can sit in front of the defence and "spray" magical passes around.
Possibly today showed there might be an alternative.

There will be games maybe we need someone sitting in, some games we need DCL up front but surely there are alternatives to the stale slow boring team selection and tactics we have witnessed since Silva came in.

Iwobi was a big plus for me; he always looks to take the ball on the half-turn, and trusts himself enough to take calculated risks when in possession. He regularly took up good positions - and that allowed Gomes and Davies options to pass the ball early. Bernard and Walcott too. His movement (and Richarlison's) that led to the spurned one-on-one chance (great play from Sidibe) was a joy to watch; it was such a shame he rushed the finish.

My fear is that very little of today's success was down to design. Silva made some tough calls for sure - dropping Sigurdsson and DCL, pushing Richarlison through the middle, recalling Bernard and Walcott... but in many ways that was Silva reverting to the line-up from 12 months ago (bar Iwobi for Sigurdsson). The changes that came because his hand was forced - Sidibe for Coleman, Davies and Gomes in because Delph and Schneiderlin were both out - might have only happened by default. Such is football though, and I'll happily take the rub of the green for today.

Sometimes I think a few of you watch the matches with the sound off while reading a newspaper. Mind-boggling.

West Ham was undefeated away coming into this match.
We missed 2 sitters (which can be fixed)
Walcott hit the bar.
Richarlison hit the post.
The utterly horrid ref cost Mina a much-deserved goal. This should have been 5-0 or 6-0.

MotM was Gomes followed very closely by Sidibe. Someone above said Iwobi was the worst of our XI and I actually agree. That said he still had a better game than any of Gylfi's previous 8, so there's that.

Morgan shouldn't see another match this season; Coleman and Sigurdsson now have to prove they deserve to start again as far as I'm concerned.

COYB

Also, I agree Christy, injuries did dictate today's selection. The fact Gomez was available again meant that the manager selected a player who hadn't been available previously. A player selected by the manager who made an impact and was hugely influential in the team's improved performance.

What a difference. High energy and passion.

West Ham are a decent team, but they simply could not build any attacks due to our intensity. It gave our defenders a much needed confidence building easy afternoon.

Defensively we are still a worry. Mina and Kean got themselves in a sorry mess on the rare occasions WH did threaten - How did they let a guy get in a shot from a few yards directly from a corner ? I wonder if they will ever learn ?

Having said that I thought Mina and Sidibe were excellent going forward, Mina was a proper handful. If I'm honest, I'm far happier with him in the opposition box.

I still havent seen a recording so I don't know why his "goal" was disallowed.. . or why was Walcott pulled back for the other disallowed "goal". . It just looked like a cleverly taken quick free kick. I will wait to see recording before I comment further.

Made up with that performance. What was very clear to me, is that Silva has players who want to play for him. . he just needs to start selecting them a little more often

We've kind of half baked it with VAR and even that gets a kicking from the pundits who seem to feel aggrieved at being denied the controversy they love vice clear decisions being made based on evidence rather than opinion.

There's always one. . even when we have a good day somebody will be hellbent on making a complete Toby of themselves.

It's precisely why the sideline refs are told to keep the flag down and NOT blow the whistle for close offside calls. The ref is SUPPOSED to let the play develop and let VAR sort it out. The only thing that should be complained about is just how awful that whistle was. Not to mention the one good chance they had (the corner where Pickford made a brilliant stop) should never have been a corner in the first place. Sidibe got his legs taken out from under him, should have drawn a booking, and didn't even touch the ball!

The ref was so bad I almost can't believe an EPL ref could be that incompetent.

Ah, well, 2-0! Great lineup, absolutely brilliant play with heart and guts, and hopefully the start of a great run of form. My biggest concern is a) winning away, and b) realizing that TODAY'S strategy (creative play, always moving upfield, actually *gasp* playing through the center of the pitch) is what's needed to break down a park-the-bus/counter side, which assuredly is what Brighton will do next week. I'd wager today featured the fewest crosses in Silva's 47 matches.

Davies gave us more energy; yes the manager now has a decision to make if Schneiderlin is available again.

We had more movement and energy up front. Calvert-Lewin doesn't give us that. Although restricted to a win-confirming cameo, I wonder if the recently much maligned Sigurdsson would have looked a different player with more movement in front of him.

A much needed great performance from a squad that showed it is much better than recent results indicate.

I'm old school. Despite the Sky hype, I don't tend to worry about the league table until Christmas. 2 points off Tottenham guys!

Great that we won but we need to identify Leicester City in third place, only seven points better off than us, as eminently catch-able to start with. That would show a professional outlook.

Absolute belter that

The thing about Siggy is that he has those moments of brilliance in a sea of utter mediocre invisibility. I think he's perfect coming off the bench for a jolt. Credit where it's due, he sealed the win today (even though it should have been long over by then)

is Everton the unluckiest team in the Premier League or what?

Good teams sometimes have to "carry" those types of players because although they may appear inactive for 80 minutes, one act of brilliance or a good 10 minute spell can change and win a game.

That said, I think Sigurdsson offers more. I revert back to my previous point. I wonder how he would have faired today with more movement in front of him than he has been used to thus far this season.

By half time we should have been three up. An injury time goal to seal the game is not good for the nervous system let alone the heart. It's a worry for another day but if we show that work rate and create chances, more days like today will happen. A striker is a must next summer. If we don't buy another player a proven 20 goal a season striker is a priority.

Finally, well done Mr Silva. Made changes and it worked. Watch match of the day for the first time in weeks. Let's press ahead, today set the standard in work rate.

Personally, I would leave him on the bench against teams who are likely to sit back (home vs most teams) but, if we score and the opposition has to attack more, he is an ideal player to bring on and exploit the space afforded.

Whoever you play against, and I get your point about "park the bus" teams, if your forwards create space through movement, it makes the midfielders' job a whole lot easier.

Anyone can make safe passes sideways or out to a wing for a cross (I fell asleep just typing that sentence). Iwobi also plays more of a box-to-box type. Okay, so he doesn't tackle. He certainly gets in the way a lot and disrupts the opponent's flow, quickly turning to get open for a build-up pass from Gomes, or Davies, or Mina. Gylfi doesn't have the pace to do that.

However, off the bench? He's got the skill and obviously the ability to change a game with a trademark strike from 18' or beyond. And most sides have tired legs at the back by then.

Only time I could see him back in the starting XI is possibly in a 4-4-2, but even then I'm not sure who to bench for him. For now, CM is Iwobi's to lose IMO.

Also like to give a shout out to Yerry Mina who I thought was a colossus and should have had his goal allowed and also to my MOTM Theo Walcott who was tireless in defence and attack.

Its the first time since last season we have played as a team with a common sense of purpose rather than playing like a collection of individuals.

The only negative for me is how we still struggle to score goals. It should have been an easy 5-0 today rather than a nervy 1-0 going into the end of the game.

If Silva can keep Everton playing this way, it will certainly provide a platform for improvement for quite a few players.

I think we lined up 4-4-2 (ish) against Sheffield United in the 2nd half.

Players like Sigurdsson will play better when they have better movement in front of them to give them options; either to feed those players' movement, or exploit the space those players create.

https://youtu.be/EC7xLwcSLoE

(Apologies for the horrendous soundtrack BTW)

Today's starting XI would have demolished Sheffield. Did anyone notice that possession dropped to 52% and yet we were on the front foot all day?

The combination of Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Calvert-Lewin and Delph was good for 65% possession every game and yet... nothing. It's very easy to control possession when all the other team has to do is watch us pass it around at the centre-line.

Anyway... l will be watching MOTD tonight for the first time in ages!

Onward & upward. COYB

Anyway, aside from a slew of spurned opportunities that might have cost us on a different day, there was hardly anything to dislike about that performance. Thought the entire starting XI played well and should keep their places next week. That's probably the best Walcott has looked for us since he first arrived under Allardyce.

For me, this was the first step in a two-part process. If Silva can replicate this level of performance next week, and come up with a road win against a perfectly beatable Brighton side, it will calm some nerves and get us right back into the thick of the table. Then we'll have a decent platform to build on.

On a side note, I know Haller's off to a good start for West Ham and many on here thought he'd have been a good transfer target for us. I was curious to see him in action and have to admit, I can barely recall him being on the pitch. Did he even touch the ball?

As others have said, Davies and Gomes were superb and Iwobi was a different kind of number 10 - possibly had more impact on the game than Siggi has had all season, and then Siggi comes on and does what only he can do!

For me, the standout performance - because I wasn't expecting it - was Sidibe. Absolutely superb - powerful, deceptively quick and seems to have great awareness of what's going on around him. He often shunned the obvious pass to do something a bit different - like the lovely little short ball to Theo in the box in the second half, and he always got his head up before he crossed rather than just hoisting it in. Really hope this is the beginning of a new era at right back for us, after the brilliant years we've had from Seamus.

However, if we get in front and teams, who would normally park the bus, now have to come at us then it plays into Sigurdssons strengths. He then becomes a brilliant player to bring on and try to put the game to bed.

I would still start Sigurdsson against all of the better teams.

No, it's not fixed by a mile but it's a start. Let's face it the players have set the standard today. It's up to them to carry that on to next week.

I have no problem with good players, therefore no preconceived notion on Walcott, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Davies, Pickford, Coleman, DCL, Keane... Duncan Ferguson as coach. It’s up to the manager to pick the team, set the formation and tactics. He has a very good, expensive squad and it’s up to him to get them performing. Today they did... and now let’s see if they can keep it going. 90 points still to play for.

Haller was indeed on the pitch but I'd wager he didn't know Yerry "The Beast" Mina was going to bottle him up like a genie.

David #260 those were the 2 reasons, huh? I'd put forth the one you omitted:

3. Every player on the pitch gave their all with an inspired performance, and the necessary change by removing the "stuck in the La Brea tar pits" guys with creative types who showed they wanted to be there and wanted to win.

I didn't count a single moment where any one of the XI stood still. Unlike say, the past 8 matches where they may as well have been stone pillars.

Next week for me is an even bigger test. Away, and against a team that's going to sit back and look to counter.

COYB

Where have they been ?

That bunch of lightweights.
Do not get Me wrong, I willtake a barrel load of convincing from henceforth that Marco is awesome. I don't think that he is.

Those two faced aresholes played today.
PLAYED.

BIGGEST sorry, but I'm not prepare to accept that the team changes and game plan inspired our witless, feckless meandering fools to blossom.
BULLSHIT !

He might be awkward and pedantic.
But, to order his subordinates around.
That's a bosses role.
Isn't it ?

Now. Tom Davies has never convinced Me that he's going to be top drawer. So why ?
Because, he's Pureblood Evertonian.
And My FEAR has always been that he'd be prepared to sacrifice common sense in place of loyalty.
Johnny Ebbrell did.

I want Tom to become a great Everton player.

To do that, Tom needs to decide exactly what sort of player that he truly is.
"Tommy Allsorts" ?
NO thanks !

We have seen young Tom playing all over the show.
And he was beginning to play games like that.
All over the show. Headless.
He's FAR too young to be all over the park in a different department each week.
FFS, squad numbers seem (to Me) to have fucked up lineups.

As fans, we still define players roles numerically.
"A true number ten".

I have NO doubt that TD would expire through effort for EFC.
NONE.

My point here is that Marco Silver hasn't got the best out of is players. FACT.
Are his players being honest with him ?
Are they bollocks !

Playing with no commitment ?

I'm expecting them false wimps to revert to type.
They've done it too many times before.

Loved today tough. Shame that I really had to miss going

It was sometimes said that Moyes was 'a better manager' when he had less players to pick from...it tended to concentrate the mind and reduce the 'overthinking'

With injuries and Schneiderlin finally dropped, we played with NO out and out dedicated 'holder / tackler'. Davies and Gomes shared the Centre Mid Field...none of this complicated dropping into the middle of the 2 centrebacks, then tippy tap it about.

I said on another thread, A Whole Mid Field Unit, not individuals, 'KISS' and do it at pace.
The reason or combination of reasons, Brands told him change it, whatever. It doesn't matter now. Its better than what went before. Don't overthink it, tinker with it, tweak it.

Just Repeat It at Brighton and the next 28 games (plus cup games)

One post described Richarleson, Iwobi and Wallcot as the weakest players on the field. Many others thought Wallcot was outstanding, as I did personally.I also thought Iwobi and Richarleson worked their arses off. It really is amazing how so many loyal Blues all have a different pespective. Once again I thought the whole team fought like tigers and left West Ham running scared More of this please.

But still incredibly frustrating. Davies has got to score in the first 5 minutes. Iwobi in the 76, both criminal misses.

In general Davies brought exactly what I expected and have wanted. Energy, forward passing, closing down, finding space to give defenders an option to pass too.

But a few times he'd sprint forward 30 yards needlessly to close someone down near the corner flag on his own but simply be passed by having left a gaping hole in our midfield. He needs to learn.

Everyone was guilty of too many unforced passes either to the opposition or simply the marked man rather than to someone in space.

It's a team game but again to many players guilty of trying to pass or shoot from impossible angles rather than the simple unmarked team mate.

Richarlison needs to be stronger. I get he's pushed and knocked but most of them are minor. Losing the ball in dangerous areas is just not on. He's not a centre forward for me, there's no hold up play. He's also become shot shy, trying to dribble instead of just shooting.

Walcott unlucky not to score and like Siggy who did I was just delighted they chose to shoot.

My MOTM was Mina. Imense at the back and he wrongfully had a good goal disallowed.

I'm being critical because I expect better as should the players and manager but very pleased with the general attitude, tempo, clean sheet and win.

Sadly his final ball, delivery, decision is always the same. Poor. Never finds a blue shirt, doesn't have the skill to dribble past players, can't cross and for a player who wants to be a striker his shooting is woeful.

We won because we played well enough against a poor team on the day. If we play like that against other teams we will not.

Effort yes, ability, skill, decision making still very much work in progress.

Without Mina.. I don't like to think.

Everyone played their part but the difference was Gomes and Davies. And an emphasis on being brave when we won possession in our half.

I've watched good players toil all season. We look for the simple answer - Sigurdsson is out of form, Richarlison is out of form, Walcott's no good, Kean is no good, Iwobi is no good.

How likely is it that these players can't do a thing right?

It's far more likely that we're not playing to their strengths. And in the case of every player listed above, they want the ball in space in the final third before team's have settled two banks of four in front of them.

I couldn't tell you how many times in the last couple of months our midfield have received the ball and gone straight back to the centre backs or full backs. I'll take a punt that our defence has had more than 50% of our touches.

Yesterday every touch was forward. We got it wrong plenty of times but when it came off we had 4 decent attackers running at 4 or 5 defenders. If you're going to play this formation then you've got to play for those odds.

I'm sure every attacker who missed out yesterday will be gutted... considering the service that they have had.

And I agree with others, I thought our options yesterday wasted a lot of good positions.

Also we’d have beaten a lot of teams playing like we did yesterday. There was more than effort on display and we should have won by 4 or 5 if we’d been more clinical/lucky.

Our manager’s command of the English language seemed much better following a victory.

Last season, we had to continually face bad refereeing decisions against us, appalling decisions that contributed significantly to detrimental results. The ref yesterday looked completely out of his depth. What the hell is going on?

Even if we hit a good run of form, I fear that bad decisions by refs will continually undermine any progress. It often makes me think the game isn't worth watching, and it's increasingly led me to avoid watching non-Everton games. I only watch Everton games because it's automatic, not through rational choice. Yesterday provided entertainment and the right result, despite the cringeworthy officiating.

I really rate Mark Noble for what he does for West Ham - a very combatitive player. That is why Gomes and Davies get most of the credit for the win from me. They just never let them settle. This is how we overran the top six teams at the end of last season when Ghana was doing his thing.

Let’s hope we see more of the same from now on.

Nobody more than Sibide, although Mina and Davies were not far behind, and talking of right-backs, the mail have got a really good article about Jonjoe Kenny, a kid who looks like he’s learning and progressing, because it looks like he’s really trying to help himself.

How true you are re poor refs at Goodison.

From where I was Mina’s goal looked good!

What’s VAR for?

I watched MOTD this morning in the hope that it would be discussed, but NO it wasn’t even shown!

I’m off to Brighton next Saturday with 10 Brighton season ticket holders (has become an annual event) and wasn’t looking forward to it. However, after yesterday I’m hopeful of a result if he plays the same starting 11, but with Coleman and possibly Delph available Silva will probably revert to type. Hope I’m wrong!!!

I take the banter before the match, my son in law gets me a ticket.

I’ll be 100yds or so to the right of the away end. They are all in the north end, and (hopefully) float afterwards.

All taken in good spirit.
Half of them make the trip to Goodison as well.

I just hope (barring injuries) that he sticks with the same starting eleven, didn't think anyone had a bad game, and they all played as a team, hope we hang on to Sidibe, what a difference he made.

However, one swallow does not a summer make. West Ham are notoriously bad on the road and them at home is just the game we needed after losing 4 on the bounce. They may have been playing well but had only beaten Watford on their travels before hand. The real work is to keep this performance up consistently and especially away from home.

Very happy with the points but Silva is a long way from being out of the woods.

Amazing what happens when you don’t play with 7 defensive players on the pitch from the off - who’d a thunk it!

Agree with your comments and highlighting what Davies needs to learn is spot on.

What I would say about young Tom is his ability to receive the ball on the turn is very good, and this means he is able to get the ball and move it forward a lot quicker. This is exactly what we need. Gomes is also a master at it and I would hope Tom has been watching this in training.

Tom has enough bite in his game to be our Gana replacement, certainly until Gbamin is back, and I hope he gets an extended run in the team to develop this potential.

Also good to see Kean’s reaction to Siggy’s goal. Seems to be enjoying life despite not establishing himself in the first 11 just yet.

3 points next week is a must.

For example, at Olympiacos, a side that Silva took to their 6th consecutive league title, he had the superior side in Greece, yet observers said that Silva wanted to give the ball away just so they could hit sides on the counter with their devastating pace, embodied by Kostas Fortounis, who operated in a similar role to Iwobi yesterday and used his lightning pace to get 18 goals from midfield (in just 30 games).

Observers may be correct in their criticisms of Siva's Everton. But the failings of the team do not always reflect the failings of the manager. By this I mean the slower plodding style we have exhibited in recent defeats. I think you can see that each match we come out and try to play with tempo, but then we got knocked out of our stride and the players go with safe football and not the game plan. They hit the easy 5 yard pass to avoid the ire of the crowd.

Tom Davies has got a lot of plaudits above. Rightly so. I've always loved him, but I'm heavily biased towards any Liverpudlian. Tom was doing the same things that received criticism last season, only he was doing them more effectively and with less mistakes. The players were aware of the criticism and groans from the crowd with bad passing. This is what makes them play safe football. It's not the game plan, it's how you deal with that particular moment when you have the ball and you're under pressure. In the 90's players were slightly different and instead of hitting a 5 yard pass when scared of the ball, they launched it long in a scared hoof towards the big fella upfront.

When Everton have put a run of form together under Silva, you see his game plan, and it's fast passing football, not possession football. The possession stats also get inflated because of the way the opposition have played us. They park the bus, or use the low block as it's now called. They know they can sit deep and we really struggle to get through such sides, even poor ones, but we play with such a high line that the opposition can get in behind. They also know they will get a set piece and they have a good chance of nicking the win with a set piece.

Brighton are a different side this season under Potter. He favours a passing style and they like to play it out from the back. They should play this way against us as they are at home, and if they do so, then they could well play into our hands. 2 wins and then the Watford game, win that and we are back up and running. The season is not dead, although it is still in the ICU.

Can you explain ICU, not sure about it’s meaning, if the explanation is permissible/printable 😇

I think the middle of the park has been a huge issue for us this season and it’s no coincidence that our best performance came with a new central 3 of Gomes, Davies and Iwobi who can all carry the ball and like to pick forward passes. Replace Davies with a fit Gbamin (and his defensive/athletic capabilities) and I think you’ve got a good balance.

Of course we got it wrong on loads of occasions, but so what, keep playing like that and we will improve ten-fold imo, especially because playing forward with intent ignites the crowd, stops them getting on your back when you make a mistake, and must also be so much easier for the players, than the constant groans they hear, when they play pedestrian football.

In other words, stop worrying about making mistakes because you are going to make them anyway, but keep playing on the front-foot and you will force more mistakes out of your opponents, and will also have the crowd right behind you!

Thanks, and totally agree.

Interestingly, his wife just posted on twitter that had he known that his gesture would have made the papers, he would not have done it. He is not one who likes the publicity.

Also I heard a story from the lady who sits next to me about Marco Silva's support of Clatterbridge that is kept quiet because he also does not want publicity for his good deeds. Whilst the guy over the park wouldn't give a homeless man 50p unless a camera was watching. (Yes gross exaggeration but you know what I mean.)

Silva knows the lad is only 21 and so still very young and he needs to protect him from that. playing him in a losing team, and Davies making mistakes, can be very damaging for him. I wonder how much of that thinking, rather than doubting his capabilities, led to this prolonged absence.

I watched the highlights and we looked good, like I want an Everton team to play. The random selection generator struck gold. Let's see if Silva sticks with the team and takes the game to Brighton.

Yesterday proved there's plenty of talent and pace in this team, when the right players are in it, playing with the right mindset. We all want it, one man's paid a lot of money to produce it and if he carries on doing the job as well as he did yesterday, we'll all be happy.

I was thinking, if we had a coach who approached youth like Frank Lampard does with Mason Mount, would Tom Davies benefit?

Lampard has come in, he's recognized a talented youngster who has loads of potential, but will indeed make mistakes, and said, "OK kid, it's your midfield, you're in charge, go run the show." Mount has absolutely flourished, knowing he's the man and has the coach's backing and confidence.

I wonder where we'd be if we had a manager who afforded Tom Davies that kind of confidence and responsibility?

Personally I'd be completely fine with it. I've always liked Tom Davies immensely, and can't understand the criticism he comes in for. There's a lot of TWers (some highly respected ones I might add) who just rip the stink out of him and believe he's a Championship player.

With a coach handing the kid the keys to the car, I think he'd develop into one of England's best. I really do.

Confidence is a significant factor, I'm sure.

Tom, has had some poor spells, but like someone has wrote on this thread (I’ve forgotten who) he’s been pushed from pillar to post at times, and hopefully he can now play in a settled team and also in a settled position.

The difference between Davies and Schneiderlin, is that one wants to be involved, and the other is quite happy being on the periphery of the game is how I view it, and I agree with Tony H, because I thought Davies had really improved his positional game yesterday, especially when he was on a booking, and had to take more care, although I know not everyone thought this was the case reading through this thread.

Morgan Schneiderlin at Southampton 1

Morgan Schneiderlin at Southampton 2

This is only 4 years ago, the lad is still not 30 and he hasn't had an ability-reducing injury.

The Premier League has never been so strong in relative terms. Aston Villa and Fulham before them came up and signed the kind of players you'd expect a Europa League level club to be after. Ok, Fulham failed miserably and most of the players ended up at poorer clubs back on the continent but that does not change the level of player promoted clubs were in for. Which is why the league is so strong. West Ham were below us last season, but look at their squad: Yarmolenko, Felipe Anderson, Lanzini, Fornals, Haller, Rice and others. The Premier League has never been so tough and we have to expect that to be reflected in results and in the table.

That also means we have a real opportunity, and I think Spur's total of 71 needed for 4th will be lower this season, to reflect the quality of the league. 65 might be enough for 4th. I also expect the relegation battle to see sides needing more than 34 points to stay up, but usually the teams at the bottom go on bad runs when confidence hits an all time low and the strong middle might steamroll them and result in actually a lower point total. Last season's middle of Leicester (9th with 52) to Bournemouth (15th with 45) should have a higher points total and I think they will all be closer to the top 6.

Remember under Martinez when 72 points was only enough for 5th?

It appears that you and I are not only in the same age group, we actually think the same. I found it difficult to find one player who had a bad game, and just as difficult to choose a 'Man of the Match'. The only criticism I have, and it may sound a little churlish, is how easily Richarlison goes to ground.

Hi Justin [266],

I hope you don't misinterpret this post, there is no sarcasm intended, it's just a feeble attempt at humour from a feeble-minded old man. If missing a goal-scoring opportunity similar to the ones that Davies and Iwobi missed, are regarded as criminal, then I would have qualified for a place in Walton Prison's team, probably serving an extended sentence.

As a below-average inside-left in a Sunday League side, I perfected the art of missing the unmissable. This has led me to believe that, because we are all mortal, we are all liable to make mistakes or misjudgements. While my first reaction is to raise my arms up in despair and disbelief, I then recall my halcyon days of leading the 'Misser Man of the Year.' I trust that you accept this post as a bit of fun.

You would like to think that he can learn, the hard way, that he needs to change. But diving is part of his nature, and his culture, so how easy is it to go against your natural instinct? He's probably diving when clipped without actually thinking to do it.

I wonder if Deulofeu's reputation preceded him when he didn't get the “nailed on” penalty at Spurs yesterday?

Look, I remain very cynical: it was not Silva's plan to play that team. I think fate forced his hand and sometimes an embattled coach needs a break. Maybe he got one. We were also playing West Ham (who alway play open football) they have been bailing Everton managers out for decades in the Premier League! The question is: Can he build on it or does he return to his conservative selections?!

However, so many nice take-aways from the game. The movement, something absent from our games to date, was there in spades. The front four moved but did so in patterns to give our attack structure. The ball stayed almost exclusively on the floor, it played to the strengths of the players in the team.

Gomes and Davies were outstanding in the first half: they didn't sit or recycle, they played beyond the halfway line, turned the ball over close to the forwards. All this was done at a tempo which simply overwhelmed the opponents. Our wasteful finishing made the game in doubt, however.

The second half, the tempo we played at could never be sustained and we sat 10 yards deeper. It allowed West Ham back in and the distance between the defence/midfield and the forwards became greater, our attacking patterns more disparate and sporadic.

This is were my doubts about the manager resurfaced, he did nothing to change the game or affect our shape to keep us effective. Iwobi, Walcott and Davies all faded and needed changing. That's a key deficiency in Silva's make up.

Up next week, Brighton will have two physical centre-halves. I'd start the same team, bar Walcott; Kean on the right for me. Holgate for Mina, assuming he's unfit. Keep the ball on the floor and in the channels.

It's a tiny step forward; he still cannot afford the drop points at Brighton. That's the hole he has dug for himself.

I'm not in the "Silva changes did the trick" camp as I believe, had Coleman and Schniderlin been available, they would've started. The changes were forced on Silva — not some great managerial master class.

They played as a team yesterday with a good couple of individual efforts that have been missing for weeks, and hopefully this will give the players encouragement to show what they are capable of. The next three games will show if we are improving or this game was just a one-off.

The manager may be pleased today but that means there should be extra intensity at Finch Farm to make sure the standard does not drop.

As has been mentioned earlier, refs should be obliged to face the cameras and explain contentious decisions after every game. I remember Poll doing it on occasions some years ago but that was probably his ego dictating that.

Fans would accept poor decisions easier if we could see a genuine mistake being explained but, with Riley as head of refereeing, we will never see it.

Some changes were forced because of suspensions and injuries, but the inclusion of Davies came out of the blue – he's been right out of favour with Silva.

I just wonder who had an input into the selection? Is Silva likely to take advice from Boa Morte or Brands on board, for instance? It was pretty radical considering the importance of the game.

I remember in Italia 90, Robson had a few injuries to his stuttering England side. The players were lobbying for change, he rolled the dice and we ended up unluckily losing the semi to Germany.

The question is whether Silva uses his luck, or gets his generator out again.

Up to now Silva hasn't given Tom a chance, and that's not because he's protecting him, when the England U21 manager praised him for his Man of the Match performance as the holding midfielder, Silva said he's not a No 6.

As you say, but why wasn't VAR used for Mina's goal? —which was clearly an obvious mistake by the referee. As I mentioned earlier on the thread, MotD didn't even show it. So much for the BBC.

Play-acting players con the referee for innocuous fouls, the opposition crowd and harangue the referee, like Man Utd this afternoon VAR strikes the goal off, albeit it's Liverpool's.

If it's used properly, we would have won 3-0 yesterday.

It can't be used once the ref blows the whistle. The ONLY complaint here should be at the poop-head (that's allowed, right?) who blew the whistle prematurely, as that act rendered VAR a moot point in this instance.

Steve @296, I think what he was trying to say is that, for the first time in a very long time, there are only 2 standout sides, and spots 3-20 seem very much open to fluidity (which is what makes our horrid start all that much worse). Chelsea is in rebuild, Arsenal can't defend, Spurs are absolutely terrible right now, and don't get me started on Man Utd.

Tony @297, your eye test on Davies was with an eagle eye. Davies had the highest pass completion rate on the team (85%) and was only dispossessed once. The lad had an incredible match and, with Gbamin out, I hope he gets the nod more often than not moving forward.

Explain the referee's decision to rule out Mina's goal, which was a clear and obvious mistake?

I said nothing about the referee's mistake, in fact the opposite, but if folks are going to go on and on about how the whistle shouldn't have mattered, then they're simply not understanding how it works. Nothing more complex than that. You both commented on how how "if it was used correctly" when in fact it was. None of us can change that, including the guys in the review booth.

I even put forth a suggestion on how I'd like to see an adjustment made for when the referee DOES blow the whistle but the booth recognizes that the ref was way, way wrong. Did you fellas miss that?

Some of the attacking play yesterday was (IMO) scintillating stuff, which should augur well so long as we don't shoot ourselves in the foot.

While I do understand your frustration at the ref making such a bad call in this instance, we as fans are handcuffed by the current VAR guidelines. Dem's the rules as it were. This is the same way VAR is used in every other league/tournament that exists. Hey I don't like speed limits either but I have to live with them, y'know?

It sounds more like you simply don't want VAR in the EPL, which is another argument entirely. Either that or the "bias" or "fixed" nature of how the refs call EFC matches, which you & I are in complete agreement about! It just doesn't have anything to do with VAR, Just a bad ref. Cheers.

You'll recall Dave, I said that when I joined the army in 1956, Everton's paintwork was green and cream, but I couldn't find anyone to confirm this. There is an article in yesterdays match day programme featuring the Bullens Road stand and it states, "Like the Leitch-designed Goodison Road stand, the Bullens was adorned with the trademark criss-cross motif on the balcony frontage, the metal was originally painted a dull green colour."

Although today's tall supporters might take a different view, at the time of opening, the stand was described by the Echo as offering best in class levels of comfort, 'Tip up chairs and plenty of knee-room make the stand one of the best of its kind in the country'. I think I'll sleep better tonight,.

The current use is supposed to be for offsides and clear and obvious errors. That would be fine - except that it influences referees' decision making because they've meddled in all sorts of decisions.

If the ref in the Liverpool game thought it might have been a foul but figured the challenge could go to VAR then he runs the risk that his omission isn't deemed clear and obvious.

Yet we have a referee do the opposite in our game. He blows his whistle despite having VAR available, which means his error can't be challenged. I don't really have an issue with VAR on our 'goal' except that it will influence refs to not blow. And if, on review, there had been an infringement, VAR may not have overruled it.

So VAR has a negative impact. Not in it's decision, but on the referees. VAR has meddled in far too much and gone well beyond its mandate.

If they can't use it correctly then just make it for offsides and let the refs ref the rest of the game.

Regarding Iwobi, I think you can see he dodges tackles no matter where you sit, I watched him especially in those incidents because when I previously saw that attitude someone mentioned he might have been suffering with a bug, so I gave him a walkover. I think I was right the first time, watch him yourself in future games.

We're all saying the same thing though; the REF blew the call, not VAR. It's great at fixing booking situations, it's great at determining if something should have been a penalty, and it's great for offside as you noted. But you can't damn the whole system because we were the unlucky ones this weekend. Let me ask you this; what if the call went the exact opposite way, and a clear WHU goal was disallowed because the ref screwed up? How would you feel then?

Ernie, the refs are told to do exactly as you described. Swallow the whistle. Our jerk did not; other jerks will (more often than not). Whether you believe they wouldn't for VVD but would for Mina is entirely up to you, but it sounds a bit conspiracy-theorist to me.

My only concern is that he will drop Tom again and bring him on for the last 10 mins. Every minute on that pitch Tom is gaining experience by playing alongside Gomes.

Silva's problem is that he does not seem to understand his own players strengths. DCL is great for tiring out fast and very fit defences and Siggy is useful for an accurate shot or two and maybe we start playing Siggy for the last 20 minutes. Did you notice that when he came on Tom start to move deeper into our half but when Tom started moving forward again the pressure built up again. Top marks for Keane for challenging and winning the ball prior to the pass to Siggy that resulted in the 2nd Goal.

After that dreadful refereeing we might also see Sidibe off injured along with Mina. That would be a disaster.

I still hope we see Dowell player alongside Gomes one day hopefully next season.

Why? Because even this season, game after game our attackers and even defenders are getting their shirts pulled to slow them down with no referee intervention and in that game yesterday it was the first time I witnessed an Everton player (Kean) tugged an oppositions players shirt and you know in your heart in the derby we are going to get penalised for an incident like that. I would hope that VAR or use of the TV that the ref can view we would at least get justice for us before we start fouling like the other teams.

https://the4thofficial.net/2019/10/everton-identify-this-italian-mastermind-as-silva-replacement-good-move-for-the-toffees/

That’s my point, it wasn’t used.

If it was, the error would have been rectified.

All I want is consistency! Is that too much ask for!!!

There are too many examples from yesterday’s VAR interpretations that beggar belief.

VAR is ruining the game, not for what it is, but the interpretation from an individual sitting nowhere near the venue.

So we are back to human interpretation v technology.

I also take issue with this sentence, “His managerial style will suit the Toffees as their current squad requires an extreme makeover.“

Now that’s lazy journalism. One of the reasons our form is blamed on Silva is precisely because he has a decent squad. Not world beaters and still requiring a few additions, but it shouldn’t need major surgery to get in or around the top six. Our current first team now consists of players bought mainly by Brands and he’s not going anywhere. If we do dispense with Silva’s services in the near future, I fully believe our next manager will be someone who will have agreed to primarily to work with the current squad and play to their strengths. There will not be another mass rebuilding in the near future.

In keeping with your comments, why is the ref surrounded by 2 or 3 players for every decision he makes from the opposition, without recourse?

Referees are weak in this respect. The Captain can approach the ref, no problems, but the baying entourage should be booked – no and ifs or buts. It wouldn’t take long for the message to get through.

Football is becoming a game for pansies and amateur actors.

Put 11 footballers against 11 professional rugby players and they wouldn’t last 5 minutes?

Is football a man's game or not?

Being the Devil's Advocate here, but if it's Man Utd, Liverpool or whoever are the media darlings at that particular time, the post-mortem is invoked as it happens virtually!

While I don’t disagree with your sentiments you can could have worded it better.

I must be doing a horrible job of saying the same thing 5 times over at last count.

You can continue to say "if it was used" or "why wasn't it used" all you want. But it's only demonstrating that you don't understand VAR. I really have tried to explain this multiple times, but it's not sticking. I can't justify the ref blowing the whistle, not only erroneously but early. But I can tell you, factually, that once he does make that bad, very human call, that VAR cannot be used no matter how heinous that error.

I am not disagreeing with you about the refs, the crappy whistle, or how it seems that these calls only go against us. I'm attempting to inform you as to when VAR can/can't be used. Don't take it up with me. Petition FIFA and UEFA if you'd like.

Frank ( no relation) @ 333 & 334, has it pretty well right. Its skewing the Referees decision making (not too hot before VAR tbh) they're blowing either too early or not at all / too late.

I used to think that VAR should only be used by the Referee to confirm what he though he saw. But this won't work as they seem to see SFA

VAR Half Term Report; must try harder.

I suggested above (without using the v1.0 description you aptly chose to) that I'd really like to see a future modification where the VAR refs upstairs can override a very poor call on the field. Certainly they all saw the field ref blow the call. Unfortunately they cannot in its current form but it would be a big improvement.

But VAR isn't being used to correct human omissions. The refs are being conservative and the game is so subjective that their 'decisions by omission' are not being overruled. We have introduced a system that promotes 'swallowing the whistle'... and then we treat that as an on-field judgement that no offence was committed which they don't want to overrule unless it's clear and obvious.

Clear and obvious was their mandate. But we're reviewing everything. We're telling refs to be conservative because VAR will review it. It's nonsense and it demonstrably doesn't work. The refs aren't making decisions and VAR isn't making them afterwards.

What you're proposing won't happen. We'll never referee the game from the stands.

Just let the referee call all of the subjective stuff and keep VAR for offsides or mistaken identity. I'd rather accept that mistakes will even themselves out than have a situation like this.

Disciplinary matters can be dealt with after the match.

I reckon a ref gives the Deulofeu penalty 7 out of 10 times. With VAR he'll probably let it go to video. And VAR won't overrule the referee. We're not getting the correct decisions except on offsides.

A corner in the first half (I think the one Davies should have converted), the replays showed Gomes blocking for Mina. Diop was well in the referee's ear about it.

The subsequent corner Tierney blew against Gomes. He spent the rest of the game looking for it. Gomes did turn into the player to set Mina free for the goal.

I didn't like it any more than the next man, but West ham ‘gamed' the referee. Perhaps we should be more savvy and not repeatedly try the same ploy or at best change up the blocker?

As for the interpretation of referee. It was right, if obvious to him he's well within his rights to call it, otherwise why blow for anything?

If you can build a credible case for any subjective call to go either way then it's not clear and obvious, however much you slow it down and review it. VAR should only overturn the biggest of errors; Henry's handball versus Ireland for example. This weekend, the Watford penalty is first one I've seen which was absolutely clear.

Clear is 90/10, not 70/30 and certainly not 60/40. So whilst many might argue it's not working I think it is. This is not to say I support it, far from it. If you use subjective elements in your protocols you deserve all the stick you get.

When that threshold is that high then it's pointless to review every key decision. They won't be overturned. Far better to implement a challenge system for clubs to use only were the error is so gross it materially affects the game.

As for the quality of referees. Well, I can say with experience and a little knowledge they will not get better. The persistent disregard and abuse for officiating at all levels of the game has resulted in much smaller pool of qualified people. That naturally produces a lower standard without numerical competition. Another reason technology will further intercede in the game.

Until the sport recognizes officials are part of the experience and fan bases continue to vilify them things will not change.

I shall write this slowly because I know you can't read very fast. Now, pay attention.

What I am saying is that VAR, in it's present form, is not fit for purpose. I have tried to explain it to you but I must be doing a horrible job.

I used the Mina goal as an example. Our referee disallowed it because he was whistle happy, another referee waits a moment until we think we've scored and THEN blows his whistle, so, as I understand it, a "goal" can be looked at by the VAR Chimps in their cage who would then allow it.* Two identical situations, two different outcomes. THAT is what I am getting at. We are at the mercy of the individual referee and his incompetence, favouritism or dishonesty (delete as necessary).

VAR can be a tool for clearing up disputed decisions but all referees must play it the same way or it's no use.

In your post @346 you say "see a future modification where the VAR refs upstairs can override a very poor call on the field" — which is what I have been alluding to. It needs, as you now agree, modification. Ergo, currently, not fit for purpose at this point.

(You remind me of my old Maths teacher... he used to talk down to us as well. ;-)

*John Pierce makes a good point that Gomes "blocked" the run of Diop. I thought that he just stood in his way as opposed to grappling with him or holding him. This would not be a foul anywhere else, he would be "standing his ground" as MotD would tell us. It was a goal and it should have stood.

I know your position, and have all along, though it did take me many hours to get through it because I can't reed so gud. The issue is that you're whinging over HOW VAR works. In other words, you may as well yell at the clouds when it rains. You'll get equally as far. Another poster (John P I think) understands VAR's purpose re: "clear and obvious". So in what I've suggested, it would work perfectly well. There's no "refereeing from the booth", there would simply be a means for them to overturn egregious errors by the on-field ref when an error is "clear and obvious."

Did you know that 100% off goals are VAR-reviewed? 98% of them are "silent reviews" and supporters aren't even aware they've happened. In that 2% where there is an error, VAR could step in to let the ref know he messed up and that a VAR review would be necessary. Which would then be up to the on-field ref to take a second (or third) look, just as it is now. In its current state, that can't happen because of the early whistle. And no one, not ever, will be able to remove the human error component. We can only use technology in an attempt to mitigate some of those errors.

You're acting as though that would be the norm when in fact it would be a very rare occurrence. My argument is, in those rare occurrences, there should be the failsafe to possibly fix it.

You're also saying that, because that 2% exists, that VAR doesn't work (Google "straw man" and "false equivalency"). If you know of anything in this world that's 100% perfect, I'm all ears.

You just want to complain, which is your right of course. But you remind me of my father, who's 74. He just keeps arguing and complaining for the sake of it too. I also remain civil with him, and he me. And with that, I will bow out of this particular discussion and leave you to your rant. Cheers.

And yes, I am aware that all goals are checked. And I do have a very good idea of how VAR works. Or doesn't, as the case may be.

My sympathies are with your Dad, we're in the same age group.

I do know someone who's 100% perfect. Or so she tells me. 😉

Rant(?) over.

The simple solution, in my opinion], is to abolish VAR. I know that this will never happen, but I'm staking a claim to a portion of cloud, I feel it would be less painful than banging my head against a wall.

In a word, Ray, my answer is No. I think that it's actually the one thing that could deter me from attending games, and I'm positive that poor performances, and even relegation, would not stop me from sitting in my seat at the Park End.

I'm not sure how familiar you are with American football, but I root for the Oakland Raiders and, during a playoff contest vs the New England Patriots, something called the "tuck rule" came into effect. In short, the Raiders sacked the Patriots QB, forcing a fumble which they recovered and would have sealed the win for them! But the refs claimed that Tom Brady had "tucked" the ball and thus it was not a fumble. Naturally, they then went on to win the game, knocking my guys out of the playoffs. Man, did that suck! The next year they changed the rule so it wouldn't happen again. I got over it, despite how livid I was on that day.

There has to be some merit to VAR's place in modern football or FIFA wouldn't have adopted it for the World Cup, and all the other top flights (Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1) as well as most "lesser" leagues in the world have been using it for years, no?

John @355, I wish I could go to every match! I'm very jealous of you locals.

It wouldn't surprise me if they "wanted it to fail". It's still a "trial", isn't it? So they can announce they tried it and it didn't work and get rid of it. Probably a warped way of thinking, but I wouldn't put anything past FIFA.

Heck look at our starting XI from this past week;

Pickford (English of course)
Digne (French)
Keane (English)
Mina (Colombian)
Sidibe (French)
Davies (English)
Gomes (Portuguese)
Bernard (Brazilian)
Iwobi (Nigerian)
Walcott (English)
Richarlison (Brazilian)
---
Sigurdsson (Icelandic)
Kean (Italian)

Right? Heck isn't the EPL putting in place a rule stating that teams can only have a max of 13 internationals? My only point is that it makes sense that there are as many similarities between leagues as possible, because of the players. It isn't the '80s anymore. Everyone should read "Who Moved My Cheese?" In only 80ish pages but it perfectly encapsulates change and why it's necessary.

Fans enjoyed games for their passion and excitement that they could get involved in, but to me someone sitting in a studio miles away should have no part in settling the outcome of a game and destroying that passion and excitement. And now their is talk about having robots as lines persons, who will the fans be able to shout at if that happens.

Football has always been a sport for fans from the beginning, but it is now being controlled by people who are only interested in the financial aspect of the sport. Rules of the game are for all levels of the sport, from the grassroots to the premier league, and internationals. It is not just for the elite who are controlled by Sky, it is for all levels and as such, if VAR is going to be used, it should be used at all levels of football.

The other problem that may arise is young people who would like to become future referees, may change their minds, with the knowledge that their decisions will be overlooked by someone in a studio, that can overrule them. Yes, some of the rules of the game should have been examined, but not just for the elite, but for everyone from amateur to professionals, and not to increase media coverage.

Cheeky little bastard might be a bit OTT. Cheeky little sod will do.

I embrace change if it's a benefit to the game. In fact, there are several changes I'd love to see in football. A quick and accurate VAR amongst them.

Interesting comments by Steve there. FIFA? Wouldn't be surprised if large brown envelope smoothed the introduction of VAR. Since everybody's favourite uncle Sepp was found out, nothing would surprise me anymore.

Cynical? Dead right. I know the square root of nothing about American Football other than it's called “football “, when it's not, and it's played by big blokes wearing armour who wouldn't last five minutes in Rugby League.

This "...it seems to take the excitement out of the game when you score a goal, suddenly you go from wild excitement to waiting for a couple of minutes to see if you have scored..." is the best, most valid mark against that I've read and can agree with. Imagine scoring a game-winning goal in the 93rd minute of a hotly contested matchup, only to have it taken away! But then the rational half of my brain says "but what if those 2 dropped points (for the losing side) are the difference between qualifying for Europe, or not?" It's easy to say 'well, that's football,' but it's a tough pill to swallow given how tight a table tends to be.

Ray, lol at your football players in armor vs. rugby comment. I'm not even a fan of the sport as it's been regulated to death, albeit often necessary to protect the lives (yes, lives) of its players. But enough about that.

I can't wait until we win a match thanks to VAR! ;-)

Apart from that, its fine.

Who Moved My Cheese is a nice little parable, but if you want something for implementing change that's more detailed & rounded and involves the participants, I'd recommend John Kotter's Eight Steps.

One day, eh, Blues...

Same again on Saturday, please, Mr Silva.

Minas perfectly good header was disallowed before the ball crossed the line and therefore no goal decision to bring VAR into play.

Aparantly Gomes walking towards Mina in the box interfered with the defender marking Mina. Despite the defender grabbing Minas shirt the referee appears to have blown against Gomes blocking.

I'm not a big fan of VAR because of the inconsistent decisions around when it's used, the time taken to review, the lack of consistency in decisions (eg. handball) and the lack of communication to help educate everyone why decisions are given and if it has been reviewed or not.

West Ham won a corner when it should have been an Everton free kick. If they had scored from the corner would it have been disallowed upon review of the corner being awarded or not because the corner of was a break in play and not directly leading to a goal?

I have no idea but I'm sure there's inconsistency around it and we probably would have been left on the wrong end whilst other teams would not.